“To issue a notification or not to issue a notification that is the question.”
“You have never worked for government have you? Without a notification…”
“I know but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government says a notification was issued and Attaullah Tarar has denied it and has asked for an apology.”
“So where is the proof?”
“The proof is in the pudding.”
“How do you define pudding? Is it vanilla pudding or a caramel pudding or even bread pudding? Or are you using the word generically meaning dessert?”
“Oh shush anyway we have much more wholesome desserts – halwas and gulabjamans and rusgullahs and…”
“I am on a diet - I can eat pudding but not halwa. Anyway given that the government denied issuing the notification which the KPK government insists was issued and is demanding an apology…”
“Remember that catchphrase from Segal’s book Love Story: Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
“I don’t think the KPK government is in love with the federal government.”
“Who is your spiritual guide?”
“Excuse me.”
“I am just curious as to who is your spiritual guide? I mean The Third Wife is incommunicado so who is your spiritual guide?”
“I don’t understand.”
“The love I refer to is not between KPK and the Centre.”
“Are you referring to the love between the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board’s patron in chief, the prime minister, as the former says he will allow the latter to decide whether Pakistan would show solidarity with the Bangladesh cricket team and…”
“Well from where I am sitting I would reckon that forging good relations with Bangladesh must take precedence over a tournament.”
“You say that because our team has so consistently and persistently under-performed…”
“I am going to have a notification issued against you barring you from…”
“I am from the private sector and have no intent to apply for a position as a director of a board of a state owned entity so notifications mean nothing to me.”
“OK but Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act must surely apply.”
“I stand corrected.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026